Bathing shoe



Feb. 2 ,1926. 1,571,462

c. R. WAITDRoN ET Al.

Bumm snoz Filed May 1, 1925 MMWW Patented Feb. 2, 1926.

f 1,571,462- Pari-:Nr l,oi-rica enemies a. WALDRON AND STEPHEN e'. sri'ivnivsoiv, or nLYniA, eine.

BATI-IING SHOE.

Application inea May 1, i925. serial No. 27,142.

To alt whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES R. IVAL- 1mrow and STEPHEN G. STEvnNsoN, both citirens of the United States, residing at Elyria,

in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bathing Shoes, of which the following is a specification. 4

Ouil invention relates to bathing shoes, or

slippers and more particularly to such die-- `shape by a stiff reinforcing element extend-- ing around the edge thereof.

Another object of our invention is to construct a swimming shoe which may be easily and quicklyadjusted to the foot of the wearrer and which will be held securely thereon while in use. n

A further object of our invention is to Y providea swimming shoe which is eXtremely simple in construction and inexpensive. to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will bec-ome apparent from the following description and drawings of an eii'ibodiinent of our invention in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of our invention;

Fi 2 is a side elevation of the shoe showing how the saine issecured to the foot of the wearer, and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of a second embodiment of our invention in which the tongue is adjustable on the cross strap.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings illustrating an embodiment of our invention, 5 represents the upper and 6 the sole portion. These portions are formed of a waterproof light fabric such as waterproofed canvas or the like, the upper of the shoe being preferably formed of a double thickness of material. The outer edges of the shoe upper are folded over a stili frame 7 of wire or the like and are stitched along the inside ofl the frame together with a strip of binding material 8 as at 9. It is the purpose of the frame te provide a. rigid means for stretching and maintaining the shape of Athe toe portion substantially flat when in iise .and to reinforce the edges of the upper and sole portions. The binding 8 serves to further ieinforee' the periphery of the shoe, while a metal clip l10 may be secured to the extreme toe end of the frame to prevent undue wear at this section of the shoe. The toe portion is normally subjected to great wear especially in walking in the waterA where the bedcontains shells or broken glass. The clip 10 not only protects the stitching and binding at the toe, but also reduces water friction at that point. i

The sole portion 6 is sewed to the inner edge of the. upper at 12, 13 and 111. The upper 5 is preferably formed to provide a tongue 15 to which is secured a strip of elastic or other material 16. rI`he binding `Sjis stitched to and extends around the tongue edges and connects with the binding 8. The ends of the strip 16 are sewed to the end portions 17 and 18 as at 19. The length of the strip 16 is sutlicient to be arched when bridging the gap foi'med by the portions 1.7 and 18 so that it will comfortably conform to the arch of the foot of the wearer. A second strip of like material, preferably elastic, is sewed. to the strip 16 at 2O and E21 so that it forms a back heel strap 22.

then .it is desired to wear the swimming shoe or slipper, the foot of the wearer is insei-ted through the opening formed by the strips 16 and 22 and thence into the pocket formed by the sole 6 and the upper 5. The strap 16 will conform to the arch of the foot while the strip 22 will firmly but comfortably grip the rear upper portion of the wearers heel, forming a positive means of Securing the device to the foot.

In Fig. 3 we show a modification of the shoe just described. In this modification it will be noted that we provide a strap -23 sewed to the tongue 15 at 24 and 25. The edges of the strap are reinforced by binding material 26 as shown. The strip 1G -is threaded between the strap 23 and the tongue body 15 as shown in the drawing, whereby additional adjustment may be secured by the tongue and strip.

Although we have described the portion 5 as being an upper for the shoe, it is obvious that the underside of the upper 5 not forming the walls of the foot enclosure will serve as an auxiliary sole portion, and will present a substantially flat surface to aid the user 'in swimming.

Thusit will -be seen that wehave provided a swimming shoe or slipper that is very simple of construction and may be very readily slipped on and ofi' the foot of the wearer without the use of bothersome laces and other fastening devices.

It will also be seen that We have provided a means of securing the device Atothe wearers foot without danger of the same becom- 'ing displaced while in use.

1t will be `understood that various changes in the construction of thisinvention may be Amade without-departing from the spirit off the vinvention or the scope o'thefsubjoined claims.

kl. A swimming shoe comprising an enlargedvfabric upper, a solei portion, a wire frame attached to and extendingr substantially: around the ,periphery` of said ,upper and elastic means secured to the said upper toiiimly secure the shoe to the wearers foot.

.2.,A swimming shoe comprising a substantially flat enlarged fabric upper, ya sole` portion, a wire Jframe attached toand extending substantially around the periphery of said upper portion to normally stretch;

tlieisame, a tongue formed on the upper, and

elastic means associated with the tongue and upper` edges to secure thezshoe to the foot of the wearer. f

.3. A swimming shoe comprising a substan-y tially flat upper portion, a sole portion, a

wire frame attached to and eXtending'subyarched when not in use.

4. A swimming shoe comprising an en- '.,larged flattened fabric upper, a lsole iportion,

a: frameattachedto Aand extending substar'b tially around the periphery of -said upper portion to Vnormally 'stretch the same and maintain it in a flattened condition, a tongue formed-on the upper, a;strip of elastic material secured to the upper adjacent its outer edges, and a strip` of elasticfinaterial secured to the ends of said first named strip substan- L.tially at: right angles thereto, said strips being arched approximately. at i'ight angles to each other whenvnot in use.

5. vA swimming shoe comprising an upper, a. sole portion, a wire frame attached to and extending'substantially around the periphery of said vamp portion, an auxiliary sole yportion secured t'ofsaid first named sole portion,- and lelastic meansl associated f with the upper-for securing the shoe to the wearers foot. Y

In testimony whereof we hereunto atlx our signatures this21st day of April, 1925. CHARLES R; VALDRON.

"STEPHEN Gr. STEVENSON 

